14 N. J. Mosquito Exti:rmination Association 



Progress in Mosquito Work in Passaic County 



BY JOHN T. POIvIylTT^ PATERSON, N. J. 



With much still to be accomplished, Passaic County reports a 

 most successful year of work toward mosquito extermination. 



There is complete harmony and co-operation among the mem- 

 bers of our commission and those to whom the actual work is 

 entrusted; our Board of Freeholders regularly appropriates 

 sufficient funds, and the results of the work done have now the 

 approval of the press and the people generally. 



In the work of the commission itself, we have adopted the 

 plan of making all purchases under the supervision of a pur- 

 chasing committee, and thus do away with the consideration of 

 many small matters relating to supplies at our monthly meetings. 



Our superintendent is in absolute control of the hiring and 

 discharging of inspectors and utility men, except in so far as 

 his actions are limited by the Civil Service Laws. The results 

 obtained under this arrangement have been very satisfactory. 

 The commission, however, regulates all questions of salary or 

 wages and also' of hours of daily employment. 



D'uring the past year we extended our work so that all the 

 thickly populated portion of the county was covered by our in- 

 spectors and utility men. 



The Passaic River forms the eastern boundary line of the 

 City of Peterson, and the present condition of the river-bed is 

 such that constant work .and also the help of the Bergen County 

 Commission are necessary in order to give relief to Paterson's 

 residential section. In this work we employ our own mosquito 

 fleet (consisting of a flat-bottom row-boat called ^'Mary Ann"), 

 which, manned by two gallant utility men, goes forth each morn- 

 ing loaded with oil, and seeks the enemy along the river banks 

 and in the formations in the bed of the river and destroys him 

 in countless millions. 



The county commissions should have the power tO' enforce 

 their orders. What are known as ''police powers" should be 

 conferred upon these bodies so that the intervention of a local 

 board of health should not be necessary. Our work is of a 



